Naseeruddin opens film preservation, restoration workshop

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah inaugurated the Film Preservation and Restoration Workshop India 2016 here.

After having accomplished a successful inaugural edition of an academic initiative focused on film preservation and restoration in 2015, this year the Film Heritage Foundation in association with Viacom18 have once again joined hands with the aim to save and uphold the legacy of India's cinematic heritage.

The inaugural event, which was held in the National Film Archive of India here on Thursday, saw support from Naseeruddin, who was the guest of honour.

At the inaugural event, filmmaker and archivist Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, and chairman CII National Committee on Media & Entertainment & Group CEO Viacom18 Media Pvt - Sudhanshu Vats, addressed the audience about the need to preserve India's rich film legacy.

Naseerudin said in a statement: "It is a matter of great pride for me to be here. On behalf of the entire film fraternity, I would like to thank Shivendra for this initiative. I am very proud that there are 50 films of mine in the archive list here. I can't thank P.K. Nair saab enough because he has inspired a generation of youngsters to follow him in his footsteps."

The workshop titled 'Film Preservation & Restoration Workshop India 2016' will take place from Friday to March 6 here and will involve lectures, presentations and practical classes that will be conducted by international experts in the field, for cinema enthusiasts who want to learn in-depth knowledge of the subject.

With a mix of technical workshops on the craft of preservation and lectures, especially designed by David Walsh, head of the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) technical commission, there will also be a daily screening of a restored classic preceded by an introductory talk on the restoration.

Thelma Ross from the Museum of Modern Art, New York will be conducting sessions in the specialised field of documentation and cataloguing.